John holkoyd



J HOLROYD.

APPARATUS FOR PLAITING FABRICS.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct; 18,1881.

1 fiw N. PETERS Plmwulm m lmr. Waslnnglou. D. C.

UNITED STAES JOHN HOLEOYD, ()F MANCHESTER, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR PLAITING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,316, dated October 18, 1881,

Application filed June 24, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England December 13, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HOLROYD, of Manchester, county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Plaiting or Kilting Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates more particularly to a peculiar combination and arrangement of the knife-actuating connections or mechanism of plaiting or kilting machines, whereby the throw or traverse of the plaiting-blade can be more readily varied to any desired extent, and greater simplicity and compactness ofthe parts are obtained.

In order that my said invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several figures on the accompanying sheet of drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation (halfsize) of my improved kilting or plaiting machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, showing my peculiar arran gement of adjustable knife-actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is avertical section of the machine, taken at or near the middle. The rest of the figures are details, which I shall hereinafter refer to.

A is the knife and knife-bar, a portion of which is shown in detail at Fig. 4., pivoted at each end to a rocking frame, B, or arms working loose on the driving-shaft O. This shaft carries at one end an eccentric or crank pin, D, the connecting rod or link E from which is coupled by the adjustable pin it in the slot 7) c to one of the arms, F, of a bell-crank lever working on a stud-center, Gr. The other arm, F, of this lever is also slotted at d c, and in this slot engages the adjustable pinfot' a second link or connecting-rod, H, which is coupled by a pin-joint at g to one of the arms of the rocking frame B, carrying the knife.

In lieu of the arms of the before-mentioned bell-crank F F being rigid or in one piece, each arm at its fulcrum end is formed with a large surfaced joint or friction-face plate, h it, (see detail, Fig. 5,) the one being held by friction or pressure against the other by the tighteningnut i.

The edge of the knife operates upon a fixed smooth (or, if preferred, slightly-roughened) surface, I, forming the plaits underneath the presser-bar K, which I prefer to hang on centers from the main standards by short arms or lugs it, as shown in the drawings, andin some cases the presser-bar may be made in the form of a box, as shown,'for containing a heater, and provided with a hinged lid or cover; but Ido not claim this arrangement separately.

The pressure of the presser-bar may, if desired, be regulated as required by an adj ustable weight, I, on a lever-arm, m, fitted to the back of the presser-bar; but I do not separately claim such application.

The pressure of the knife upon the fabric is produced by a cam or eccentric, L, on the driving-shaft acting against an arm, M, projecting from the pivoted knife-bar.

Any convenient or well-known arrangement of guides N for the work is placed in front of the machine, and provision is made for lifting the presser bar or box, and supporting it in its raised position by a lever-catch, O, as is well understood.

The gas-burner P, which I prefer to employ, consists of a hollow V-shaped chamber, 0, (shown in partial detail plan at Fig. 6,) open at one end, where the mouth of the gas-pipe m enters, ample space being left round the pipe for the free ingress of air into the gas-chamber along with the gas.

A number of projecting lateral burners, n a, are cast along one side of the gas-chamber, which chamber I prefer to make in two parts, the one consisting of a hollow trough, 0, ofa V or other convenient section, having the several burners a cast in one therewith, the other a flat plate or cover, 1), screwed thereon. The whole arrangement, which is simple and easy of construction, is fitted by screws to the under side of the bed-plate or plaiting-surface I of the machine, so as to be readily removable. As the knife moves back and forth the fabric passing over the plate I is caught, folded, and pushed beneath the flat presser box or bar K, between which and the plate I the plaited fabric is compressed and ironed for such a length of time that the plaits will retain their position. The arm m and weight I permit the pressure to be regulated with nicety, yet do not interfere with lifting the bar K off of the fabric at any time. By using a flexible arm or blade, M, I prevent the forcing of the knife through the fabric should thelatter become wedged fast.

By varying the relative positions of the slotted arms F F of the bell-crank round the fulcrum-pin and suitably adjusting the connecting-pins along their slots 1) c and d c, it is obvious that plaits of various widths and distances apart may be readily produced, care being taken, after adjustment, to secure the arms F F in their adjusted positions by tightening the nut, and to secure the connectingpins in position in their relative slots and tighten the nuts thereon.

Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, in a plaiting-machine, of the table 1, bar K, hung to the frame at one side and provided with a gravitating arm, m, having the weight I sliding thereon for the purpose of regulating the pressure or friction, the knife A, and means for reciprocating it between the table and bar, substantially as set forth.

2. Ina plaiting-machine, the combination, with bar K, hung as described and claimed, of the knife Aand heater P, arranged as sctforth.

3. The combination of the arms B, adapted to swing on a shaft, C, knife A, pivoted thereon, and slotted levers 1* F, of the bell'crank connected to the crank-wheel on the shaft 0, and to the arms B, cam L, and flexible blade M, snbstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HOLROYD. Witnesses:

J OSEPH LYTLE, JOSEPH HO\VAR'1H, Clerks to Messrs. Ormerod- 43 Allen, Solicitors,

Illanchcster. 

